Benefit evaluation for information providing system by WebGIS in view of users' travel costs

This paper estimates the benefit of a plan for information providing system on road administration by WebGIS. The system will reduce travel costs of visitors from their business establishments to a road administration section of a city office. The authors had individual interviews with the visitors at the section of the Ichikawa City Office. Annual total sum of travel costs was estimated at 37 million yen at most. This paper also proposes formulas which expect the frequency of visits or the total sum of travel costs from the spatial distribution of the business establishments without questionnaires.

Maternal feeding self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable intakes in infants. Results from the SAIDI study

Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) is a characteristic of a healthy diet but remains a challenge in nutrition interventions. This cross-sectional study explored the multi-directional relationships between maternal feeding self-efficacy, parenting confidence, child feeding behaviour, exposure to new food and FV intake in a cohort of 277 infants. Mothers with healthy infants weighing ≥2500 g and ≥37 weeks gestation were recruited post-natally from 11 South Australian hospitals. Socio-demographic datawere collected at recruitment. At 6 months postnatal, infantswereweighed and measured, andmothers completed a questionnaire exploring their perceptions of child feeding behaviour and child exposure to newfoods. The questionnaire also included the Short Temperament Scale for Infants, Kessler 10 to measure maternal psychological distress and 5 items measuring maternal feeding self-efficacy. The number of occasions and variety of FV (number of subgroups within food groups) consumed by infants were estimated from a 24-hour dietary recall and 2 days food record. Structural equation modellingwas performed using Mplus version 6.11. Median (IQR) variety scores were 2 (1–3) for fruit and 3 (2–5) for vegetable intake. The most popular FV consumed were apple (n = 108, 45.0%) and pumpkin (n = 143, 56.3%). None of the variables studied predicted the variety of child fruit intake. Parenting confidence, exposure to new foods and child feeding behaviourwere indirectly related to child vegetable intake through maternal feeding self-efficacy while total number of children negatively predicted child vegetable variety (p < 0.05). This highlights the need for addressing antecedents of maternal feeding self-efficacy and the family eating environment as key strategies towards development of healthy eating in children.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the baby eating behaviour questionnaire and associations with infant weight, gender and feeding mode in an Australian sample

The aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (BEBQ) in an Australian community sample of mother-infant dyads. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between the BEBQ subscales and infant gender, weight and current feeding mode. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) utilising structural equation modelling examined the hypothesised 4-factor model of the BEBQ. Only mothers (N=467) who completed all items on the BEBQ (infant age: M=17 weeks, SD=3 weeks) were included in the analysis. The original 4-factor model did not provide an acceptable fit to the data due to poor performance of the Satiety responsiveness factor. Removal of this factor (3 items) resulted in a well-fitting 3-factor model. Cronbach’s α was acceptable for the Enjoyment of food (α=0.73), Food responsiveness (α=0.78) and Slowness in eating (α=0.68) subscales but low for the Satiety responsiveness (α=0.56) subscale. Enjoyment of food was associated with higher infant weight whereas Slowness in eating and Satiety responsiveness were both associated with lower infant weight. Differences on all four subscales as a function of feeding mode were observed. This study is the first to use CFA to evaluate the hypothesised factor structure of the BEBQ. Findings support further development work on the Satiety responsiveness subscale in particular, but confirm the utility of the Enjoyment of food, Food responsiveness and Slowness in eating subscales.

The influence of maternal infant feeding practices and beliefs on the expression of food neophobia in toddlers

Food neophobia is a highly heritable trait characterized by the rejection of foods that are novel or unknown and potentially limits dietary variety, with lower intake and preference particularly for fruits and vegetables. Understanding non-genetic (environmental) factors that may influence the expression of food neophobia is essential to improving children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables and encouraging the adoption of healthier diets. The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal infant feeding beliefs (at four months) were associated with the expression of food neophobia in toddlers and whether controlling feeding practices mediated this relationship. Participants were 244 first-time mothers (M = 30.4, SD = 5.1 years) allocated to the control group of the NOURISH randomized controlled trial. The relationships between infant feeding beliefs (Infant Feeding Questionnaire) at four months and controlling child feeding practices (Child Feeding Questionnaire) and food neophobia (Child Food Neophobia Scale) at 24 months were tested using correlational and multiple linear regression models (adjusted for significant covariates). Higher maternal Concern about infant under-eating and becoming underweight at four months was associated with higher child food neophobia at two years. Similarly, lower Awareness of infant hunger and satiety cues was associated with higher child food neophobia. Both associations were significantly mediated by mothers’ use of Pressure to eat. Intervening early to promote positive feeding practices to mothers may help reduce the use of controlling practices as children develop. Further research that can further elucidate the bi-directional nature of the mother-child feeding relationship is still required.

Privacy enhanced electronic cheque system

With the introduction of Check 21 law and the development of FSTC's echeck system, there has been an increasing usage of e-cheque conversions and acceptance among retailers, banks, and consumers. However, the current e-cheque system does not address issues concerning privacy, confidentiality, and traceability. We highlight the issues concerning the current electronic cheque system and provide a solution to overcome those drawbacks.

Australian species of spore-feeding Thysanoptera in the genera Carientothrips and Nesothrips (Thysanoptera : Idolothripinae)

The species from Australia in the genera Carientothrips and Nesothrips are reviewed and an illustrated key is provided. Carientothrips is distinguished based on the unusual form of the maxillary palps. Two species, badius Hood comb.n. and capricornis Mound comb.n., are transferred to Nesothrips from Carientothrips; and Nesothrips melinus Mound syn.n. is synonymised with Carientothrips miskoi Mound. In Carientothrips the following six new species are described: alienatus sp.n., calami sp.n., horni sp.n., palumai sp.n., snowi sp.n., tasmanica sp.n.; while flavitibia Moulton stat.rev. is recalled from synonymy with C. mjobergi (Karny). In Nesothrips four new species are described: barrowi sp.n., brigalowi sp.n., coorongi sp.n., rossi sp.n.; while rhizophorae (Girault) syn.n. is placed as a synonym of minor Bagnall.

Suppression of current fluctuations in a crossed E×B field system for low-voltage plasma immersion treatment

Plasma transport in a hybrid dc vacuum arc plasma source for ion deposition and plasma immersion treatment is considered. It is found that external crossed electric and magnetic fields near the substrate can significantly reduce the relative amplitude of ion current fluctuations I-f at the substrate surface. In particular, I-f decreases with the applied magnetic field when the bias voltage exceeds 300 V, thus allowing one to reduce the deviations from the rated process parameters. This phenomenon can be attributed to an interaction between the metal-plasma jet from the arc source and the discharge plasma in the crossed fields. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

A promise and a possibility : the limitations of the traditional criminal justice system as an explanation for the emergence of restorative justice

The claim that restorative justice emerged in response to the failings of the traditional criminal justice system is frequently made and rarely challenged in the restorative justice literature. It is stated unproblematically, as though it is an unassailable fact rather than a powerful truth claim, thereby positioning restorative justice as a natural, progressive and superior model of justice in comparison with the traditional criminal justice system. This truth claim therefore bestows restorative justice with a legitimacy that is difficult to challenge or refute. Drawing on a Foucaultian genealogy of restorative justice, this article seeks to destabilise the truth claim that restorative justice emerged in response to the failings of the criminal justice system. While the shortcomings of the traditional criminal justice system may provide a backdrop to the emergence of restorative justice, this article argues that such a possibility makes restorative justice a possibility rather than an inevitability.

Intervertebral staple grading system with micro-CT

Introduction Intervertebral stapling is a leading method of fusionless scoliosis treatment which attempts to control growth by applying pressure to the convex side of a scoliotic curve in accordance with the Hueter-Volkmann principle. In addition to that, staples have the potential to damage surrounding bone during insertion and subsequent loading. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of bony structural damage including epiphyseal injury as a result of intervertebral stapling using an in vitro bovine model. Materials and Methods Thoracic spines from 6-8 week old calves were dissected and divided into motion segments including levels T4-T11 (n=14). Each segment was potted in polymethylemethacrylate. An Instron Biaxial materials testing machine with a custom made jig was used for testing. The segments were tested in flexion/extension, lateral bending and axial rotation at 37⁰C and 100% humidity, using moment control to a maximum 1.75 Nm with a loading rate of 0.3 Nm per second for 10 cycles. The segments were initially tested uninstrumented with data collected from the tenth load cycle. Next an anterolateral 4-prong Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) staple (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, USA) was inserted into each segment. Biomechanical testing was repeated as before. The staples were cut in half with a diamond saw and carefully removed. Micro-CT scans were performed and sagittal, transverse and coronal reformatted images were produced using ImageJ (NIH, USA).The specimens were divided into 3 grades (0, 1 and 2) according to the number of epiphyses damaged by the staple prongs. Results: There were 9 (65%) segments with grade 1 staple insertions and 5 (35%) segments with grade 2 insertions. There were no grade 0 staples. Grade 2 spines had a higher stiffness level than grade 1 spines, in all axes of movement, by 28% (p=0.004). This was most noted in flexion/extension with an increase of 49% (p=0.042), followed by non-significant change in lateral bending 19% (p=0.129) and axial rotation 8% (p=0.456) stiffness. The cross sectional area of bone destruction from the prongs was only 0.4% larger in the grade 2 group compared to the grade 1 group (p=0.961). Conclusion Intervertebral staples cause epiphyseal damage. There is a difference in stiffness between grade 1 and grade 2 staple insertion segments in flexion/extension only. There is no difference in the cross section of bone destruction as a result of prong insertion and segment motion.

A three-phase to single-phase matrix converter based bi-directional IPT system for charging electric vehicles

This paper presents a novel three-phase to single-phase matrix converter (TSMC) based bi-directional inductive power transfer (IPT) system for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications. In contrast to existing techniques, the proposed technique which employs a TSMC to drive an 8th order high frequency resonant network, requires only a single-stage power conversion process to facilitate bi-directional power transfer between electric vehicles (EVs) and a three-phase utility power supply. A mathematical model is presented to demonstrate that both magnitude and direction of power flow can be controlled by regulating either relative phase angles or magnitudes of voltages generated by converters. The viability of the proposed mathematical model is verified using simulated results of a 10 kW bi-directional IPT system and the results suggest that the proposed system is efficient, reliable and is suitable for high power applications which require contactless power transfer.

RPAS integration within an Australian ATM system : what equipment and which airspace

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) currently lists more than 100 separate entities or organisations which maintain a UAS Operator Certificate (UOC) [1]. Approved operations are overwhelmingly a permutation of aerial photography, surveillance, survey or spotting and predominantly, are restricted to Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations, below 400 feet, and not within 3 NM of an aerodrome. However, demand is increasing for a Remote Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) regulatory regime which facilitates more expansive operations, in particular unsegregated, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Despite this demand, there is national and international apprehension regarding the necessary levels of airworthiness and operational regulation required to maintain safety and minimise the risk associated with unsegregated operations. Fundamental to addressing these legitimate concerns will be the mechanisms that underpin safe separation and collision avoidance. Whilst a large body of research has been dedicated to investigating on-board, Sense and Avoid (SAA) technology necessary to meet this challenge, this paper focuses on the contribution of the NAS to separation assurance, and how it will support, as well as complicate RPAS integration. The paper collates and presents key, but historically disparate, threads of Australian RPAS and NAS related information, and distils it with a filter focused on minimising RPAS collision risk. Our ongoing effort is motivated by the need to better understand the separation assurance contribution provided by the NAS layers, in the first instance, and subsequently employ this information to identify scenarios where the coincident collision risk is demonstrably low, providing legitimate substantiation for concessions on equipage and airworthiness standards.

Diagnostics of rolling element bearings for the traction system of high speed trains : experimental evidences

Monitoring of the integrity of rolling element bearings in the traction system of high speed trains is a fundamental operation in order to avoid catastrophic failures and to implement effective condition-based maintenance strategies. Diagnostics of rolling element bearings is usually based on vibration signal analysis by means of suitable signal processing techniques. The experimental validation of such techniques has been traditionally performed by means of laboratory tests on artificially damaged bearings, while their actual effectiveness in industrial applications, particularly in the field of rail transport, remains scarcely investigated. This paper will address the diagnostics of bearings taken from the service after a long term operation on a high speed train. These worn bearings have been installed on a test-rig, consisting of a complete full-scale traction system of a high speed train, able to reproduce the effects of wheel-track interaction and bogie-wheelset dynamics. The results of the experimental campaign show that suitable signal processing techniques are able to diagnose bearing failures even in this harsh and noisy application. Moreover, the most suitable location of the sensors on the traction system is also proposed.

Experimental evidences in bearing diagnostics for traction system of high speed trains

Rolling element bearings are the most critical components in the traction system of high speed trains. Monitoring their integrity is a fundamental operation in order to avoid catastrophic failures and to implement effective condition based maintenance strategies. Generally, diagnostics of rolling element bearings is usually performed by analyzing vibration signals measured by accelerometers placed in the proximity of the bearing under investigation. Several papers have been published on this subject in the last two decades, mainly devoted to the development and assessment of signal processing techniques for diagnostics. The experimental validation of such techniques has been traditionally performed by means of laboratory tests on artificially damaged bearings, while their actual effectiveness in specific industrial applications, particularly in rail industry, remains scarcely investigated. This paper is aimed at filling this knowledge gap, by addressing the diagnostics of bearings taken from the service after a long term operation on the traction system of a high speed train. Moreover, in order to test the effectiveness of the diagnostic procedures in the environmental conditions peculiar to the rail application, a specific test-rig has been built, consisting of a complete full-scale train traction system, able to reproduce the effects of wheeltrack interaction and bogie-wheelset dynamics. The results of the experimental campaign show that suitable signal processing techniques are able to diagnose bearing failures even in this harsh and noisy application. Moreover, the most suitable location of the sensors on the traction system is proposed, in order to limit their number.

Child-feeding practices of Indian and Australian-Indian mothers

Aims Child-feeding practices may be modifiable risk factors for childhood obesity; however investigation of feeding practices in non-Western populations is scarce. This cross-sectional study examines feeding practices of affluent Indian mothers with children aged 1-5 years residing in Australia and Mumbai, India. The secondary aim was to study the association between maternal and child characteristics and feeding practices. Methods In Australia 230 and in Mumbai 301 mothers completed either a hardcopy or online questionnaire. Self-reported maternal feeding practices (restriction, monitoring, pressure to eat, passive and responsive feeding) were measured using established scales and culturally-specific items. Results Mothers in both samples were equally likely to use non-responsive feeding practices, namely dietary restriction, pressure and passive feeding. Similarly, at least 50% of mothers in both samples did not feed their child responsively (mother decides what and the child decides how much to eat). The only difference observed after controlling for covariates (mothers’ age, BMI, religion, education, questionnaire type, child’s age, birth place, gender, number of siblings, and weight-for-age (WAZ) scores) was that mothers in the Australian sample used higher levels of dietary monitoring (β= 0.2, P= 0.006). Mothers with a higher BMI (OR: 0.84, CI: 0.89-0.99, p=0.03) and following Hinduism (OR: 0.50, CI: 0.33-0.83, p=0.008) were less likely to feed responsively. Conclusions These results suggest that Indian mothers in both the samples may benefit from interventions that promote responsive child-feeding practices.

A general approach to tune the vibration properties of the mounting system in the high-speed and heavy-duty engine

Majority of the current research on the mounting system has emphasised on the low/medium power engine, rare work has been reported for the high-speed and heavy-duty engine, the vibration characteristics of which exhibits significantly increased complexity and uncertainty. In this work, a general dynamics model was firstly established to describe the dynamic properties of a mounting system with various numbers of mounts. Then, this model was employed for the optimization of the mounting system. A modified Powell conjugate direction method was developed to improve the optimization efficiency. Basing on the optimization results obtained from the theoretical model, a mounting system was constructed for a V6 diesel engine. The experimental measurement of the vibration intensity of the mounting systems shows excellent agreement with the theoretical calculations, indicating the validity of the model. This dynamics model opens a new avenue in assessing and designing the mounting system for a high-speed and heavy-duty engine. On the other hand, the delineated dynamics model, and the optimization algorithm should find wide applications for other mounting systems, such as the power transmission system which usually has various uncertain mounts.